If you’re exploring western Japan, chances are you’ll find yourself on the Sanyo Shinkansen. This is the fastest and most convenient way to travel between major cities like Osaka, Hiroshima, and Fukuoka.
Opened in 1975 as the country’s second bullet train line and an extension of the Tokaido Shinkansen, it revolutionized long-distance travel with speeds of up to 300 km/h (185 mph).
Kanazawa is known as ‘Little Kyoto’, though it is a unique destination in its own right. The capital of Ishikawa Prefecture, it offers a huge number of historical attractions, Buddhist temples, and interesting museums, as well as fascinating samurai and geisha districts.
Kanazawa’s best-known attraction is the 17th-century Kenrokuen Castle. This impressive piece of historic architecture boasts one of the country’s very best landscape gardens and it draws visitors from both across Japan and abroad.
Traveling from Osaka to Kyoto and back is easier than ever. The two cities are well-connected and there are numerous travel options.
The fastest way to travel from Osaka to Kyoto and back is by rail, and there are 4 different lines you can take. Using your JR Pass, you can catch a Shinkansen bullet train from Shin-Osaka Station to Kyoto Station, which only takes around 15 minutes.
Osaka might not exude beauty the way Kyoto might, but the city definitely has charm, color, and great food. Set in the Kansai region, Japan’s third largest city is extremely well connected and has plenty of surprises in store.
If you’re a foodie, Osaka is the place to be. Its unofficial slogan is kruidaore which means ‘eat until you drop’. A highly photogenic spot in the city is Dōtombori, here you will find several pedestrian streets and numerous illuminated billboards. One of the most famous signs is the Glico Running Man.
Are you a foodie – someone who eats, not just out of hunger, but because you have an ardent interest in food and make enjoying it your hobby? Do you like to travel? Trying new foods – and splurging beyond the ordinary – are two of the best aspects of travel.
Today, dedicated foodies go out of their way, sometimes making international sojourns, to sample the best foods that the world has to offer. Michelin-starred restaurants, ranked among the best in the world, are frequent destinations.
The next generation of Shinkansen bullet trains has already begun testing. The state-of-the-art ‘Alfa-X’ travels up to 400 km/h (almost 250 mph!) and has a range of groundbreaking features.
Journalists were first treated to a trial run of the experimental craft on 27th October 2020, between Sandai and Morioka stations on the JR East Tohoku Shinkansen line, which links Tokyo with Aomori Prefecture in the north of Honshu, Japan’s largest island.
